Latest news with #PolokwaneObserver
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
Limpopo pig farm murder: Accused turns state witness
POLOKWANE – A dramatic development unfolded in the Polokwane High Court on Monday as the second accused in the Onverwacht pig farm double murder case turned state witness. Rudolf de Wet (20), a former farm supervisor, agreed to testify against his co-accused in exchange for immunity under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act. De Wet was originally charged alongside farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier (61) and employee William Musora (50) on two counts of premeditated murder, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. Read more: Limpopo pig farm murder trial begins in Polokwane High Court The trial links to an incident in August 2024 when Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu were shot and killed on the Onverwacht farm outside Polokwane while collecting food. It is alleged that their bodies were fed to pigs to destroy evidence. Zachariah Olivier (60) and his two employees Adriaan De Wet (19), and William Musoro (45) are expected to apply for bail in the Mankweng Magistrate's Court today. The trio stands accused of murdering Mariah Makgato (47) and Lucia Ndlovu (34) and feeding them to pigs on August 20. — Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) August 30, 2024 A third victim, Ndlovu's husband, survived the attack and is expected to testify. Read more: Pig farm double murder: Victim recalls 'traumatic experience' Read the full story in this week's Polokwane Observer.
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Hawks push ahead with Polokwane Municipality corruption case
POLOKWANE – The corruption probe into the affairs of the Polokwane Municipality will continue despite a key segment of the broader investigation being struck off the Limpopo High Court roll in the city on Tuesday due to interlocutory issues. This assurance came from the head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Maj Genl (Adv) Gopz Govender, who spoke to Polokwane Observer shortly after Judge Jane Ngobeni ruled that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) was not positioned to proceed with an urgent application compelling the municipality to hand over its gift register. The register was to be examined for potential irregularities involving Mayor John Mpe and his Makoro Foundation. Read more: Court strikes Hawks' Polokwane gift register bid Ngobeni ruled it fair to allow all legal respondents, including legal representatives of Mpe, his foundation, the municipality and municipal manager Thuso Nemugumoni, to first finalise a related interlocutory application also before the court. The Hawks have since indicated their intention to re-enrol the urgent application within the next month, anticipating that the other matter will have been resolved by then. This development comes in the wake of explosive claims circulating on social media, alleging that over R700m in municipal tenders were irregularly awarded to relatives and associates of Mpe and Nemugumoni. Read more: Polokwane mayor faces deadline over tender kickback claims The municipal manager also faces allegations of awarding a R56m tender to a Zimbabwean national with which she reportedly has close ties. Mpe, while conceding the foreign-owned company had likely been paid through a joint venture with a local entity, in recent weeks denied any wrongdoing. As speculation intensifies, the municipality's leadership has dismissed the allegations as a political witch-hunt aimed at undermining Mpe's leadership and the foundation's achievements. Govender, however, stressed that the Hawks' investigation is impartial and driven by evidence, and not public opinion or political pressure. You might also want to read: ActionSA opens corruption case against Polokwane mayor 'Our investigation is not about targeting individuals or being influenced by public commentary. What goes to court is not information or intelligence, but evidence, and we are confident in the evidence we've gathered,' he stated. Mpe did not respond to Polokwane Observer's request for comment by the time of publication.
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Polokwane mayor dismisses tender allegations as politically motivated
POLOKWANE – Polokwane Mayor John Mpe has strongly denied allegations of irregular tender awards and procurement misconduct within the municipality, describing the claims as politically motivated attempts to derail his leadership and future prospects within the ANC. Speaking at a press briefing held at the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex's press theater on Thursday, Mpe responded to social media posts that have circulated in recent days, which appear to include confidential financial documents allegedly showing questionable payments and procurement practices. The mayor questioned why the Polokwane Municipality was being targeted and dismissed the allegations as part of a 'deliberate and intensifying political campaign' by his detractors. 'The focus on Polokwane is not because of procurement irregularities, but because of a political campaign waged by those I defeated during the May regional conference and those hoping to block his rise ahead of the upcoming provincial conference,' he said. Mpe emphasised that no law prohibits foreign nationals from conducting business with municipalities, provided they meet all legal and tax compliance requirements. 'All service providers are subject to a regulated process. Tenders are awarded in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management Act and go through a rigorous adjudication process,' he said. Mpe emphasised that no law prohibits foreign nationals from conducting business with municipalities, provided they meet all legal and tax compliance requirements. 'Tenders are awarded in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management Act,' he said. — Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) July 25, 2025 'No tenders are awarded on a personal basis.' The mayor acknowledged knowing some of the contractors in question from his previous tenure at the Capricorn District Municipality but denied ever granting them special treatment. Mpe said the Executive Mayor plays no role in the awarding of tenders, as explicitly stated in Section 117 of the MFMA, which prohibits councillors from participating in supply chain processes. — Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) July 25, 2025 He also addressed accusations that his charitable organisation, the Makoro John Mpe Foundation, benefitted from an R8m payout, calling the claim entirely false. 'The foundation has never received such an amount,' he stated. Mpe concluded the briefing by confirming that a discussion had taken place within the municipality regarding the implementation of a lifestyle audit for municipal officials. He also admitted there is a need to address growing concerns about nepotism within the institution.
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
VIDEO: R81 closed as Ga-Sekgopo residents protest over water
POLOKWANE – Motorists travelling to and from Polokwane via the R81 are advised to use alternative routes as the road is closed due to a community protest in the Ga-Sekopo area. Motorists travelling to and from Polokwane via the R81 are advised to use alternative routes as the road is closed due to a community protest in Ga-Sekopo. Residents in the area are protesting over ongoing water shortages. 📽️ – Supplied. — Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) July 21, 2025 Reports suggest residents in the area are protesting over ongoing water shortages and have blocked the R81 with rocks, tree branches and other items. In videos shared on social media, residents of the area can be heard asking government for intervention, stating that they have not had water supply for over three months. Due to heavy congestion in the area, the Limpopo Department of Transport says motorists should use the following routes to minimise disruptions: For Mooketsi-bound traffic: – Divert at Munnik – Proceed to Morebeng – Join R36 to Mooketsi For Polokwane-bound traffic: – Divert at Mooketsi – Proceed via Morebeng to Polokwane Authorities are on the scene to monitor the situation. For more breaking news follow us on Facebook Twitter Instagram or join our WhatsApp group At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Limpopo's fencing star Rahul van Manen shines on African stage
POLOKWANE – Rahul van Manen, the province's most decorated fencer and a member of the Sello Maduma Fencing Club (SMFA), continues to dominate the fencing scene both provincially and nationally. Renowned for his exceptional skill, Van Manen remains unbeaten in senior men's épée and foil within the province, holding top national rankings as well. Currently, he is ranked number three nationally in épée and number one in foil. His recent success at the senior nationals saw him clinching silver medals in both épée and foil, showcasing some of his best performances to date. Notably, Van Manen has expanded his repertoire by entering sabre competitions, earning a bronze medal and a national ranking of fifth in this weapon. His coach, Sello Maduma, praised his 'remarkable all-round fencing talent'. Van Manen's results earned him a coveted place on the South African national team for the Senior African Championships in Lagos in late June. Focusing mainly on the épée events, he competed in both the individual and team categories. • Individual épée: Van Manen secured ninth place, placing him firmly in the top 10 fencers in Africa – a significant achievement for someone recently promoted from the junior ranks. • Team épée: Alongside teammates, Van Manen reached the finals against the top-ranked Egyptian team. The match was tightly contested, with Van Manen impressively matching scores against an Egyptian Olympian. Although they ultimately took silver, their performance as the second-best senior men's épée team in Africa was a moment of pride. Maduma expressed his satisfaction with their achievements, highlighting the significance of their continental success. Van Manen shared with Polokwane Observer that after a brief rest and participation in the provincial senior competition to defend his ranking, he will travel to Essen, Germany, to represent South Africa at the prestigious Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games (July 16-27). There, he will compete in both individual and team épée events. Only three South African fencers were selected for this major international event, marking Van Manen's inclusion as a great honour for both Limpopo and the country. Maduma praised Van Manen's dedication, describing him as 'a fantastic ambassador for fencing: hardworking, committed, eager to learn and respected by peers for his sportsmanship both on and off the piste'. On behalf of the Limpopo Fencing Association (LFA), chairperson Renuka Ramroop extended best wishes for his upcoming competitions. 'We have no doubt he will give his absolute best and we remain incredibly proud of him.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
